PFC’S BEST OF 2011 HONORED AT AWARDS DINNER
Winnipeg Rifles quarterback Ryan Marsch was the big winner at Saturday night’s Prairie Football Conference Awards Dinner in Saskatoon as he won 3 awards.
The 3rd-year pivot that set a new Canadian Junior Football League single season passing yards mark with 3,030 and equalled Darryl Leason’s conference record for touchdown passes with 31 was a unanimous choice as both the conference’s Most Valuable Player and the PFC’s nominee for the Peter Dalla Riva Award as CJFL Offensive Player of the Year. Marsch also took home the Outstanding Offensive Back Award.
In addition to Marsch, 4 other Rifles earned hardware. Receiver Kurt Goodrich claimed Rookie of the Year, Alex Vitt captured Receiver of the Year honors & Alex McKay was selected as Offensive Lineman of the Year. Head Coach Greg Graceffo, in his 2nd year as Rifles bench boss was named Coach of the Year.
A foursome of Calgary Colts picked up individual honors. Prince Baffoh was named the Outstanding Defensive Lineman; Alex Saretsky won Outstanding Defensive Back honors. Stephen Dereniwski was tabbed as Outstanding Linebacker; while kicker Andrew Fabian won Special Teams Player of the Year honors.
Zach Evans of the Regina Thunder captured the PFC nomination for CJFL Defensive Player of the Year.
There were a total of 8 unanimous picks among the all-star teams. On the defensive side, lineman Prince Baffoh and defensive back Alex Saretsky of the Calgary Colts were selected along with defensive back Chad Okumura of Winnipeg and Zach Evans of Regina.
On the offensive side, Rifles pivot Ryan Marsch along with teammates Matt Lariviere & Alex Vitt & lineman Lane Bryksa of Saskatoon made the cut.
Overall, 8 Calgary Colts made the all-star grade, with 7 Winnipeg Rifles on the elite squad. The Saskatoon Hilltops placed 6, while 3 from the Regina Thunder & 2 Edmonton Wildcats rounded out the selections.
The Winnipeg Rifles fielded one of the youngest squads in the conference as 5 Rifles picked up all-star rookie awards. Punter Brad Mikoluff was one of a pair of unanimous picks, with Edmonton Wildcats quarterback Jordan Olson earning the other. Ryan Migadel was the other Wildcat winner as he was tabbed as Rookie Defensive Back of the Year. One member each from the Regina Thunder & Edmonton Huskies rounded off the rookie elite.
Calgary Colts tailback DJ Whetton was named as the winner of the PFC Community Service Award. Whetton spearheaded a “Pink October” campaign that raised awareness for breast cancer. The campaign was launched just prior to the season and to date has raised in excess of $4000.
The complete list of award winners and all-stars appears below.
PFC 2011 Outstanding Player Awards and All-stars |
|
|
|
|
|
PFC COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD |
#/Position |
Name |
Team |
Notes |
|
|
D.J Whetton |
Colts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUTSTANDING PLAYER AWARDS |
#/Position |
Name |
Team |
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
CJFL Outstanding Offensive Player |
12- QB |
Ryan Marsch |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
CJFL Outstanding Defensive Player |
95 - DT |
Zach Evans |
Thunder |
|
Most Valuable Player |
12-QB |
Ryan Marsch |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
Rookie of the Year |
88- Rec |
Kurt Goodrich |
Rifles |
|
Coach of the Year |
|
Greg Graceffo |
Rifles |
|
Outstanding Offensive Back |
12- QB |
Ryan Marsch |
Rifles |
|
Outstanding Offensive Lineman |
62-OL |
Alex McKay |
Rifles |
|
Outstanding Receiver |
85 - Rec |
Alex Vitt |
Rifles |
|
Outstanding Defensive Lineman |
52 - DL |
Prince Baffoh |
Colts |
|
Outstanding Defensive Back |
24- DB |
Alex Saretsky |
Colts |
|
Outstanding Linebacker |
42 - LB |
Stephen Dereniwski |
Colts |
|
Outstanding Special Teams Player |
7 -K/P |
Andrew Fabian |
Colts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DEFENSIVE ALL-STAR TEAM |
#/Position |
Name |
Team |
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
Defensive Line |
52 |
Prince Baffoh |
Colts |
Unanimous |
Defensive Line |
92 |
Steven Giang |
Wildcats |
|
Defensive Line |
95 |
Zach Evans |
Thunder |
Unanimous |
Defensive Line |
76 |
Bret Pisio |
Hilltops |
|
Linebacker |
42 |
Stephen Dereniwski |
Colts |
|
Linebacker |
40 |
Jace Skelton |
Colts |
|
Linebacker |
46 |
Richard Zacharias |
Hilltops |
|
Defensive Back |
23 |
Alex Saretsky |
Colts |
Unanimous |
Defensive Back |
2 |
Miguel Barker |
Wildcats |
|
Defensive Back |
3 |
Derek Pilon |
Thunder |
|
Defensive Back |
26 |
Chad Okumura |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
Defensive Back |
4 |
Braxton Lawrence |
Hilltops |
Tie but more 1st place votes |
Punter |
7 |
Andrew Fabian |
Colts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
OFFENSIVE ALL-STAR TEAM |
#/Position |
Name |
Team |
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
Offensive line |
56 |
Andrew Driusso |
Colts |
|
Offensive line |
63 |
Lane Bryksa |
Hilltops |
Unanimous |
Offensive line |
68 |
Tristan Hoath |
Hilltops |
|
Offensive line |
66 |
Nevin Gamblin |
Rifles |
|
Offensive line |
62 |
Alex McKay |
Rifles |
|
Receiver |
83 |
Clay Cooke |
Thunder |
|
Receiver |
85 |
Alex Vitt |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
Receiver |
5 |
Derek Dean |
Rifles |
Tie but more 1st place votes |
Receiver |
81 |
Matt Lariviere |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
Running Back |
9 |
Cuong Thai Lieu |
Colts |
|
Running Back |
27 |
Regan Schuler |
Hilltops |
|
Quarterback |
12 |
Ryan Marsch |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
Place Kicker |
7 |
Andrew Fabian |
Colts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALL-STAR ROOKIE AWARDS |
#/Position |
Name |
Team |
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
Offensive Lineman |
60 |
Craig Esquival |
Rifles |
|
Receiver |
88 |
Kurt Goodrich |
Rifles |
|
Running back |
30 |
Skyler Sargeant |
Huskies |
|
Quarterback |
11 |
Jordan Olson |
Wildcats |
Unanimous |
Place Kicker |
74 |
Brad Mikoluff |
Rifles |
|
Defensive Lineman |
52 |
Brett Wade |
Thunder |
|
Linebacker |
50 |
Donovan Gregoire |
Rifles |
|
Defensive Back |
21 |
Ryan Migadel |
Wildcats |
|
Punter |
74 |
Brad Mikoluff |
Rifles |
Unanimous |
